Supporters of President Marcos Jr. brave the rain as they watch a live feed of the SONA along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on July 22, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATE) -- President Ferdinand Marcos should ensure that the promises he gave during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) will come to fruition, a member of the House of Representatives said Monday.

For Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, most of Marcos’ pronouncements were very general, even vague.

“Very general eh, generalizations on food, on nutrition, on security. Pero lahat naman ‘yun very general lang eh. Kung hindi mo talaga gagawan ng programa, policy reforms at kung ano ano pa, hindi rin ‘yun magmamanifest sa ating bansa, sa ating bayan,” she said.

“Bagsak pa rin naman kasi bakit, kasi kami po, sabi nga namin, it should be an action eh. Tapos lahat naman ng binanggit, very general, parang vague nga lahat eh,” Brosas added.

Brosas also noted Marcos made no mention about issues such as women’s rights, human rights, divorce, SOGIE, and environmental issues, among others.

“None, none at all. I was really hoping na mayroong ganoong pagbanggit, pero after the one and a half hour ng speech ng Pangulo, walang mention noon,” she said.

“I was really looking forward kahit na nga ‘yung basic ‘no, on human rights, on defenders, human rights, mga defenders natin. On environment, na issues na mayroon tayo… except for the Loss and Damage Fund,” Brosas added.

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House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party List Rep. France Castro, for her part, also gave Marcos Jr.’s third SONA a failing grade saying it made no mention of private workers’ and teachers’ clamor for substantial wage hike. The President only mentioned of allocating funds for the salary adjustment of government employees.

For Castro, the President failed to layout in his SONA clear and comprehensive plan to address poverty and inequality.

“In the education sector, he enumerated as achievements and promises several long-standing campaigns of ACT Teachers and the education workers, namely, the recently passed Teaching Allowance Act, the end to "utang-tagging," and career progression of teachers. However, he made no mention of the most important issues of teachers nowadays, the P50,000 entry level for teachers” she said.

“Di rin makakampante pa sa ngayon sa pangakong SSL VI ang public school teachers at education support personnel, pati na ang lahat ng nasa public sector hanggang di nila nakikita ang sapat na pondo para rito sa ilalim ng 2024 GAA at 2025 proposed budget na magtitiyak na nakabubuhay na sahod ang ibibigay ng SSL VI,” Castro added.

"For government employees including teachers, the supposed 4 tranche SSL is still just a promise and may again be a pittance like the SSL V, other salary adjustments, and the P35 minimum wage increase in NCR. Also, instead of making job orders (JOs) and contract of service (COS) workers regular, Pres. Marcos Jr. will just extend their exploitation. As we have said before, we demand an end to endo in government,” the lawmaker noted.

"Sa SONA ng mamamayan mariing kahilingan ng ordinaryong Pilipino ay signipikanteng dagdag na sahod at sweldo.  Pero walang kongkretong commitment sa sahod sa pribadong sektor at di rin maaasahan ang sinasabi dagdag na sahod daw sa kawani ng gobyerno na malamang ay kakapiranggot na naman," she also said.

"The President's SONA was long on rhetoric but short on substance, he stated mostly palliatives but not true solutions. He failed to lay out a clear and comprehensive plan to address the pressing issues of poverty and inequality that continue to plague our nation," Castro stressed.

Brosas also shared Castro’s sentiments, calling the administration “deaf to the plight of ordinary Filipinos”.

“The glaring absence of any mention of a significant wage increase shows how out of touch this government is with the struggles of workers. Ang mga malalaking negosyo, may sandamukal na karagdagang tax breaks sa ilalim ng isinusulong ng pangulo na CREATE More Act habang sa mga manggagawa mumong P35 na dagdag sahod lang ang ibingay," she said.

The lawmaker also criticized the administration's emphasis on Public-Private Partnership, saying it only benefits big businesses.

"Sa katotohanan, delubyo imbis na ganansya ang dulot nito sa mamamayan dahil sa malawakang pribatisasyon tulad ng nangyayari ngayon sa napakaraming pampublikong pamilihan sa bansa," Brosas said.

Marcos delivered his third SONA on Monday, focusing on issues such as high prices, unemployment, benefits for teachers and government employees, war on drugs, the West Philippine Sea, and Philippine offshore gaming operations, among others.

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-- with a report from Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News